New BBQ place open on Lithia Pinecrest
Debbies’ Classic BBQ, located at the Chevron gas station on the corner of Lithia Pinecrest Rd. and Lumsden Rd., recently opened its doors. Offering BBQ ribs, chicken, pork, sausage and even turkey legs, this new BBQ is sure to cure your cravings. Side items include southern favorites like potato salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, chips and Cole slaw. The BBQ joint also offers sweet tea and lemonade as well as cookies and children’s plates. The restaurant opens at 10:30 a.m. daily and is owned by local resident Debbie Poole. Visa and MasterCard are both accepted at this location. For more information, call 813-802-5114.
Instant Replay Sports offers new and used sporting equipment
A new sports store recently opened in the Valrico area. Instant Replay sports, located within the Sweetbay-anchored plaza at 2549 S.R. 60 E., offers new and used sports equipment. It will also buy your used equipment or do a trade with you, said Drew Downs, who co-owns the shop with his father. He said the shop specializes in golf and will re-grip and re-shaft clubs. They have everything from children’s and women’s clubs to clubs for lefties and apparel. Other sporting goods also sold at the store include baseball uniforms and gloves. Downs said he picked this location because he liked it—and its right next door to popular sports bar Beef ‘O’ Brady’s. He also said he chose it because of the growth we are experiencing this side of 60. For more information on this buy, sell, trade store, call 653-GAME (4263) or visit its Website at www.instantreplay-sports.com.
Artist Visits Orange
On Friday, September 5 from 5-9 p.m., Orange Home Accessories in Plaza Bella at the intersection of Bloomingdale Ave. and Bell Shoals Rd. will host artist Pam Smith in an event open to the public. Smith, who specializes in handmade and hand painted imagery art and furniture, currently has work featured in the Tops Gallery in Malibu, California, and in various galleries in Sanibel and Captiva Islands and Key West. She is a resident of Vero Beach and the Bahamas. “Pam allows inspiration and imagination to rule her hand,” says Orange owner Debbie Ploor, who is excited about offering Smith’s work in the store. “Each piece reflects the influence of the colors and wildlife of Florida and the Caribbean. This is functional art at its finest. Art that is fun to look at and fun to use.” Orange is located at 1046 Bloomingdale Ave. and can be reached at 681-8686. For more information, visit www.orangehomeaccessories.com.
Benjamin Moore Moves To New Home
Fine Designs design center and Benjamin Moore paint distributor recently moved to a new location in the Badcock Furniture-anchored Clayton Plaza on S.R. 60 in Brandon between Parsons and Kings avenues. The store, previously location on Lithia Pinecrest Blvd. in the Publix-anchored plaza, is a signature store for Benjamin Moore paints and offers customers complete design services including color selection, decorative consultations, window treatments, fabrics, wallpaper, accessories and furniture. Our new location is a one stop shopping experience,” says owner Brant Wensloff who explains that the plaza also includes Bay Area Kitchens and Baths, Home Accessory Center and K&K Flooring in addition Badcock Furniture. For more information, call the store at 657-9822 or visit www.finedesignstampa.com.
Local Bounce Business Recognized
Space Walk of Brandon owners Bill and Tanya Doran were recently recognized by Space Walk President Frank Scurlock at the annual Space Walk partner meeting in Daytona Beach. The local franchise owners, members of the FishHawk Area Networking Group (FANG), were named the 2007 Markerters of the Year, were runners up for the 2007 Rookie of the Year award and won the bronze medal for total yearly rentals. “In addition, we were the branch with the highest percentage of customer’s e-mail addresses,” says Tanya. Space Walk, one of the first inflatable amusement rental companies in the United States, has 202 branches around the country. For more information, visit www.herecomesfun.com. To contact Space Walk of Brandon, call 681-8722.
Chamber Hosts Seminar
The Brandon Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund in providing free, Spanish spoken business seminars for the Hispanic community in the Greater Brandon area. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, August 27 from 10 a.m.-12 Noon, at the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce. The ‘How to Start a Business’ seminar will offer attendees the information necessary to start a business or improve an existing one. Participants may register by contacting Venessa Loredo at 689-1221, Ext. 16 or vloredo@brandonchamber.com.
Resident Starts Dog Walking Business
Do you leave your dog at home all day when you go to work? Twin Lakes resident Denelle Christensen recently opened Happy Hounds Dog Walking L.L.C., a company which, in addition to pet sitting and training services, offers daily dog walking. Christensen has completed a Red Cross Pet First Aid course, volunteered with Basset Rescue in three states, served as a foster home for several rescue dogs over the years and is a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. She also carries $1,000,000 in liability insurance to protect clients and offer peace of mind. “My goals for the business include helping my clients to enjoy a rewarding, stress free relationship with their companion dogs, assisting my four-legged clients to become healthier, happier, more balanced dogs through regular exercise and stimulation,” says Christensen, who welcomes all breeds of dogs and has specialized experience with large breeds including German Shepards, Labs, Rottweilers and Basset Hounds. For more information, visit www.happyhoundswalking.com or call 759-3802.
Resident Starts Baby Boot Camp
For many new moms, finding time to work out and get their body back in shape is difficult. But Riverview resident Chantel DiMuzio, franchise owner and instructor for Baby Boot Camp Brandon East/Apollo Beach has come up with the perfect solution. Baby Boot Camp is a national franchise with over 100 locations nationwide where moms don’t have to find someone else to look after the baby while they squeeze in some time to work out. “Our tagline line is: “Bring your Baby, Get Fit!” which pretty much says it all,” says DiMuzio, a certified fitness instructor and mom to 16-month old Anthony. “Baby Boot Camp is a stroller based exercise program for new and expecting moms. Anyone with stroller aged children can attend. Classes are designed to help moms get back their pre-baby bodies, only better.” Ffter a grand opening celebration on September 8 from 9:30-11 a.m., classes will be held Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays at the Campo Family YMCA in Valrico. Class start time will be 9:30. In addition, DiMuzio plans to open a second location in the Riverview area in the near future. For more information, e-mail DiMuzio at chantel.dimuzio@babybootcamp.com or call 600-5057. For more information on Baby Boot Camp, call 1-888-990-BABY or visit www.babybootcamp.com.
New Pet Grooming Studio
The new Pickled Pink S’Paw Grooming service is now open and ready to pamper your dog. From bathing with natural organic shampoos (gentle herbal formulas for any skin type) and breed specific styling with hand scissoring by certified groomers to doggie facials and gland expressions, Pickled Pink S’Paw has something for every canine. “Let us find the right style for your special pet that is a maintainable fit to your families’ lifestyle,” says owner Jennifer Rathert, a retired veterinary technician with 20 years of experience. In addition, the studio, located at 2619 S.R. 60 East, between Miller Rd. and St. Cloud, offers doggie daycare services with a variety of membership options and indoor and outdoor activity areas. As retired veterinary technicians, with over 20 years of experience, we are motivated to provide caring company for canines with welcoming arms and kindness. Hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 657-SPAW.
Ms. Cyndi’s Corner Café Coming Soon
Using the property next door to her husband’s Jaymer-Que BBQ, Cyndi Holcombe will offer two new services. Ms. Cyndi’s Corner Café will serve sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, coffee, etc. The sandwich and deli meats will be smoked at Jaymer-Que which Holcombe believes will give them a unique product from the start. “We will also be highlighting our soon-to-be-famous Smoked Chicken Salad. So far I am the only one that knows the recipe and I have to say it is pretty good,” says Holcombe. “No one around here has anything like it.” Although Holcombe says the menu is not quite finalized, she explains the café will offer a great café type menu and dessert menu (cakes, cheesecakes, pies, etc.) with coffee and soft serve ice cream. “We will be open later than Jaymer-Que with a limited menu mainly for the dessert and coffee crowd,” she says. In addition, the space will be used for Jaymer-Que Pit-Side Pick-Up. “Customers will now be able to call in their order and utilize the drive-thru between the two buildings to pick-up their food,” says Holcombe. “No more having to get out of the car with the kids to come in and get dinner to take home, we’ll bring it right to the car.” The restaurant will be opening soon. The phone number for Pit-Side Pick-Up is 689-PITS.
Realtor Joins Prudential Tropical
Connecting people to their dreams is what Renee Gregory enjoys most about her career as a real estate professional. She believes that the most important thing she can do is to provide the kind of knowledge and personal attention customers need when making a decision about such a big investment. “My business is more than helping people buy and sell property,” says Gregory, who credits her personal attention and years of experience with her success. “My business helps turn dreams into reality.” A real estate professional since 1987, Gregory regularly attends seminars and continues her education on pertinent topics affecting the real estate industry. She has a thorough understanding of local trends, pricing strategies and negotiating techniques and an in-depth knowledge of the area’s communities, acquired as a native of the Brandon/Riverview area. For more information, contact Gregory at 643-9977 or e-mail rgregory@prutropical.com.
